A good read...

I just finished reading Tempting Faith: An Inside Story of Political Seduction by David Kuo. I had picked this book up based on an article I had read about two months ago, and finally decided to read it. As someone who is intrigued by politics, I found this book fascinating. Here's the scoop:

David Kuo was a special assistant to the President from 2001 to 2003, deputy director of the White House office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives. Kuo's desire was to work with the President on delivering the $8 billion per year promise to faith-based organizations that were helping their communities. As the book points out, this promise was never delivered, nor was it ever taken seriously so much as being a campaign booster and as a way to attain votes in 2000 and 2004. Kuo's revelations of these things isn't so much disturbing to me on a political level as on a personal level. Here's why:

• Politically we need to remember that all men are human, even really good men - or well-intentioned men, like our President. If I take President Bush at his word (and I do), he is a brother in Christ. But he is human and prone to failures and temptations. The higher the leadership, the greater the magnification of these things.
• Personally I am bothered by these things because I have too often been all about "my side" winning and trusting that "my political party" will get things done. As a lifelong Republican, I have to admit (as Kuo did) that Republicans have controlled the White House for 19 of the past 28 years, as well as controlled Congress from 1994-2006 - and are we better off? That is not a Republican slam so much as a personal slam on my looking to politicians when I should be looking elsewhere (starting with the mirror) for the world to improve.
• Spiritually is where I get really distressed - why did the Religious Right/the church become so consumed with politics? When was that ever part of the Great Commission? I agree with Bill Hybels, "The future of the world rests in the hands of local congregations...It's the church or it's lights out. Without churches so filled with the power of God that they can't help but spill goodness and peace and love and joy into the world, depravity will win the day; evil will flood the world. But it doesn't have to be that way. Strong, growing communities of faith can turn the tide of history" (Courageous Leadership, p. 21-22). While the church has made great strides through individuals to better society, its best and most effective work is done when it remembers that God has ordained the church and not the government to do His work.
  
• But spiritually I am alarmed and distressed by church leaders who get too involved in politics - men I have great respect for, but who have erred on the side of over-involvement and who have apparently been duped by politicians to simply becoming vote-getters. I hope that Kuo's book, even though it is from his own point of view, sheds light and perspective so as to avoid politics that is over-promised and under-delivered. If nothing else, I hope that it causes these religious leaders who feel called into the political spectrum to more closely monitor what is being promised versuswhat is being delivered.

One of the other fascinating viewpoints of this book is the historical viewpoint. These include:

• Seeing the formations of a President, before as governor of Texas and then in the early stages of his administration as he began to fit into the role.
  
• Discovering how the White House is the greatest home-field advantage on the earth.
• Viewing different political figures through the lens of a White House aid - figures such as the Clinton family, the Bush family, and other key political figures.
  
• Watching how a new administration begins to unfold through delegations and prioritizing.
• Learning an insider's viewpoint of the events of 9/11.
• Witnessing the mixing of politics and religion.
• Seeing the differences in religious leaders such as Jerry Falwell, James Dobson, and Billy Graham.
  

As Kuo wrapped up his book, I think the suggestion he gives at the end is phenomenal. He recommends that the religious right fast from politics for two years. He doesn't advocate not voting, but rather turning off the talk radio, the TV ads, the campaign rallies - and getting involved in the local church as the agent of church (that last point is probably my viewpoint). But he recommends that we do this so as not to be used for political gain, and that in turn, we take a look at politics from Jesus' standpoint - that we vote from a biblically-guided perspective, and not allow the sway of political jargon be our guiding force. I think this is an excellent and refreshing idea.

All in all, this was a great book - a grounding book. It is said that this book which was released in the fall of 2006 was a major reason for the political victories of the Democrats. Maybe, maybe not. But it is a much-needed book for Christians to read so that the church will remember the Great Commission is our objective, not the advancement of a political party.
-Pastor